Archived News

21/07/2011 (Bernama) - Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session higher today as investors hunted for bargains after two days of losses, dealers said.

20/07/2011 (Bloomberg) - Vegetable oil production may gain 4 percent in 2011 following a larger increase last year as higher yields in Malaysia and Indonesia boost palm-oil output, Hamburg- based researcher Oil World said in a report today.

20/07/2011 (Reuters) - Europe's energy chief announced seven green certification schemes for biofuels on Tuesday and promised in future to tackle the unwanted side-effects of turning food into fuel.

20/07/2011 (The Guardian) - While the quasi-apocalyptic tumult over carbon pricing has dominated the Australian media for the best part of 2011, another fierce, albeit less high profile, environmental debate has entered its final stages – the labelling of palm oil on product packaging.

20/07/2011 (International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development) - The recent Indonesian decree imposing a 2-year moratorium on new permits to convert natural forests and peatlands was initially thought to have adverse impacts on palm oil development, by limiting the land reserves for expansion. In reality, the decree still provides significant space for the expansion of palm oil plantations. First of all, the moratorium exempts concessions covered by “in principle” permits. This means that those that have secured permits prior the moratorium’s entry into force can continue to convert forests. More importantly, the country’s vast secondary natural forests fall outside the moratorium’s scope, meaning their conversion, including for palm oil plantation, is made possible. Overall, business as usual is expected for palm oil development.

20/07/2011 (MSN India) - Crude palm oil prices traded higher by Rs 1.10 to Rs 478.60 per 10 kg in futures trade today on pick-up in spot market demand.

20/07/2011 (Vanguard) - Lufthansa became the first airline to use biofuels on regular commercial flights on Friday in a six month trial that it estimates will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1,500 tonnes during the period.

20/07/2011 (Jakarta Post) - The government will soon introduce a new ruling on the export tax imposed on crude palm oil (CPO) which will among others lower the tax cap from the current 25 percent following a strong protest from producers, a senior finance official says.

20/07/2011 (Reuters AlertNet) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has promised a series of changes to overhaul the economy and public service to draw investment and transform the country into a high-income nation by 2020.

19/07/2011 (Bloomberg) - Palm oil dropped for a second day, declining after reaching the highest level in more than three weeks, on concern that demand for the cooking oil may drop as Europe and the United States tackle debt crises.

19/07/2011 (Jakarta Post) - Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer, will implement the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification next month, which will be mandatory for all oil palm plantations in the country, an official says.

19/07/2011 (Borneo Post) - Ongoing talks on possible merger and acquisition (M&A) exercises appear to have trickled over to other industries apart from the much-hyped financial services sector.